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Message: <blockquote data-quote="spyscribe" data-source="post: 2998118" data-attributes="member: 5808">Part the Two-Hundred ThirdIn which: snippet says, “Now, refresh my memory.  Is the Count a magic user, or is he just a big jerk?”Barnabus rejoins the group and the entire assembly of party, archmage, and two constructs begin making their way to the dock.  As they walk, the party asks Barnabus about magic items he made for the Count that they should be aware of.“Oh, I’ve made plenty of things for him over the years.  Most of them are personal items, self-prestidigitating garments, armor that can look like clothing, personal protection.  Then there’s the various guards and wards on the Keep, and, of course, the sigil medallions, the teleport sticks— oh goodness.”Barnabus suddenly cuts himself off, his brow knitted in concern.“What is it?” Eva asks.“Well, I had assumed we would just teleport to the keep, but… Hmm…. No, we can’t do that.”“Why not?”“I’ve warded the building against teleports.  We’ll have to arrive just outside the front gates.”“So, if we get into trouble, we can’t teleport out either?”  Eva clarifies.“Not as such, no.”“What is your intention, exactly, when you speak to the Count?”  Reyu asks.“Well,” Barnabus considers his words.  “I will inform him I intend to leave, and then I will ask him for the return of all the magic items I have crafted for him.”“What if he refuses?”  Anvil asks.“I will destroy them,” he says simply.  At this pronouncement, the party members, as one, stop cold.  It takes Barnabus a few seconds to notice that he and the constructs are the only ones still walking.“You have the power to spontaneously destroy any magic item you created?”Barnabus smiles indulgently.  “Oh no, no, no of course not…  I have the power to destroy any magic item at all within forty feet.  Little spell of my own design…  I call it the disjunction.”  (Or, Barnabus’ Disjunction, since there is no wizard named Mordenkainen in the Halmae.)“If it becomes necessary, I’m sure the Count has some sort of store room.  We have simply to find it.”“What if we’re within forty feet when you cast the spell?” Eva wants to know.  “Will it affect our items as well?”“Certainly.”“Can you give us some warning before you do that?”Banabus nods.  “Well, I’ll certainly try.”  His eye falls on Kiara.  “You might not want to be there when the spell goes off.”“Why?  What would happen to me?”“I have no idea.”Testy gives Kiara an appraising look.  “That would be fascinating.”Woodsy scowls.  “You think everything is fascinating.  You’d think you’d always been clumping around in that thing.”Barnabus sighs.  “If you like, Woodsy, you’re more than welcome to stand in the area of effect when and if the disjunction goes off.  I won’t stop you.”Woodsy nods.  “I just might.”Eva finally brings the conversation back around to where it started.  “But what about magic items the Count might have on his person?  What should be we careful of?”“Oh right, right…”  Barnabus considers again.  “Well, there was this spiked chain I made for the captain of the County Guard.  When it hits, it delivers an electric charge—”Anvil cuts him off.  “We know of it.”“Really?  Did you see it wielded?”Just then, the group arrives at the boat.  At one end, the captured crew waits.  At the other, Euro perches atop the sailcloth bundle that contains Lira’s body.  His eyes narrow at the strangers.Barnabus does in fact put two and two together.  “Oh… oh… I’m terribly sorry for your loss.  I mean, it’s good to know the weapon is effective, but obviously these are not the circumstances one would wish for that discovery.”“It is another… difficulty with teleportation,” Reyu points out.  “We would not want to have to leave Lira’s body behind.”Barnabus nods.  “Yes… I can see that.  Awkward to have to carry her into battle, and all that…  Unless…” he trails off, lost in thought.“Unless what?” Eva asks.“Is that her familiar?”  Barnabus asks suddenly, pointing at Euro.“Yes.”“We could… shrink the body.”“Shrink her?”“Yes.  I believe she would even be small enough for the weasel to carry.”(DM quote: “And this plan is so cool, I’m not even going to have you make a ‘use rope’ check to rig up a harness.”)Woodsy, who is able to talk to Euro, explains the situation, and the weasel grudgingly backs off long enough for Barnabus to cast shrink object on Lira’s corpse.Euro continues to watch both Woodsy and Barnabus with great suspicion.  You try anything… I’ll kill you.  You get that?  I can take you down.  Don’t think that I can’t.Once the deed is done, Euro runs forward.  He sniffs at the now tiny (or to be precise: fine) bundle, and through Woodsy relays his cautious satisfaction.  When Lira is firmly secured to his back, the party can practically see his ego inflating.Since they aren’t going to need the skiff, the party takes the sails, and then leaves the sailors free to row themselves to whatever island they choose.  They figure that wherever the sailors decide to go, they won’t be able to raise an alarm in time to do any good.And so, as the sailors put their oars to the water, there is a sudden white flash, and the party vanishes.###The party materializes directly in front of the main gates of the Count’s compound.   Above them, the walls loom, ten feet high and solid stone.  The massive iron-clad wooden gates that stood open when they were first escorted to see the Count mere days ago, are now closed and barred.Reyu looks up.  She cannot help but notice that there are a lot more guards stationed on the wall than there were the last time they were here.  At the party’s sudden appearance, they snap to attention.At least fifteen men and women at arms immediately bring their bows to bear on the party, along with several war-mages who stand ready to cast at a moment’s notice.  Eva steals a glance over at Barnabus, standing at the front of the group, flanked by Testy and Woodsy.The archmage appears perfectly calm.He clears his throat, and, addressing an officer stationed above the gate, announces, “We have come to speak with the Count.”The officer says something to the soldier on his right side who in turn calls out, “Send for Lord Marmion!”The cry is taken back along the wall, through the courtyard and onto the keep.  Then, quiet falls once again over the strange gathering. While they are waiting, Anvil looks up at the arches stationed above his head, and gives them all a withering stare.Presently, Lord Marmion, the Count’s chamberlain, appears above the gate.  Although he must have hurried over, his robes of office are unruffled, and his decorous smile, as always, in place.He greets the archmage as though he were not backed by a small army standing ready to attack at his slightest gesture.  “Barnabus.  It is good to see you.  We are so seldom accorded the pleasure of a visit.”Barnabus, also apparently unconcerned by the number of armed observers, answers cordially, “Some issues have been brought to my attention which I would like to discuss with the Count.”Marmion smiles.  “Of course.  And the Count would be honored to see you.  However, your… associates are a different matter.”“Hmm?”“We would request that they be given over into our custody.  They are wanted for many crimes, among them:  theft, piracy, and assault on members of the County Guard.”Barnabus appears to consider for a moment, then replies amiably.  “No, no I really don’t think that would be acceptable.”  He brushes his hands, as though that settles the matter.  “Now, are we going to stand here all afternoon, or are you going to open up?”  He smiles again and pantomimes rapping on the door.Lord Marmion and the Guard Officer exchange a tired look.   Then, Lord Marmion shrugs.  “Captain… Open up.”The captain raises his arm and with a shout, gives his men their orders.  While it is not exactly the instruction the party had been hoping for, it is also, admittedly, not really a surprise.  “Fire!”</blockquote>

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